OBS Studio vs Restream: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for OBS Studio and Restream side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, OBS Studio leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
OBS Studio
Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software
Best for you if:
- • You want to record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software
Restream
Broadcast live video to 30+ platforms simultaneously
Best for you if:
- • You want to chat aggregation
| At a Glance | OBS Studio | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $19/mo flat, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Video & Media Screen Recording | Video & Media Live Streaming |
Rating | 4.7/5 Capterra 4.7 · G2 4.6 1,212 reviews | 4.4/5 Trustpilot 4.0 · Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.5 899 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Free tier watermark |
Choose OBS Studio or Restream?
Choose OBS Studio if
- You want to record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software
Choose Restream if
- You want to chat aggregation
In-Depth Analysis
OBS Studio
Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software
OBS Studio offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is 100% free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: Powerful features
- Pro: Huge community
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Can be resource heavy
Key features
Restream
Broadcast live video to 30+ platforms simultaneously
Restream is the leader in multistreaming.
Watch out
Free tier watermark
Strengths
- Pro: 30+ destinations
- Pro: Chat aggregation
- Pro: Easy setup
Weaknesses
- Con: Quality limits on free
- Con: Per-stream pricing
Key features
Plans and prices: OBS Studio vs Restream
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio |
| obsproject.com read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Restream |
| restream.io/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on OBS Studio pricing and Restream pricing.
Key Takeaways
OBS Studio
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5
Restream
- Worth considering for video & media
What the data shows
On the data below, OBS Studio leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- OBS Studio has the higher user rating (4.7/5 from 1,212 reviews for OBS Studio, 4.4/5 from 899 reviews for Restream).
- Restream starts at $19/mo flat, billed monthly; OBS Studio has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do OBS Studio and Restream compare in 2026?
On the data below, OBS Studio leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. OBS Studio has the higher user rating (4.7/5 from 1,212 reviews for OBS Studio, 4.4/5 from 899 reviews for Restream). Restream starts at $19/mo flat, billed monthly; OBS Studio has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are OBS Studio and Restream used for?
OBS Studio: Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software. Restream: Broadcast live video to 30+ platforms simultaneously.
What does OBS Studio cost vs Restream?
OBS Studio is free. Restream's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $19/mo flat, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between OBS Studio and Restream?
OBS Studio's main strength: completely free. Restream's main strength: 30+ destinations.
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